Employer – Oslo University Hospital HF
Job title – Special Engineer in breast cancer, single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic
Deadline – 10.03.2024
A 2-year position as special engineer (spesialingeniør) is available at the Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital in the period 1.April 2024 – 31.March 2026.
The Department of Medical Genetics at Oslo University Hospital is Norway’s largest medical genetics department with over 200 employees. The department is responsible for diagnostics of rare and inherited diseases, and runs a national research infrastructure for high-throughput DNA sequencing at the Norwegian Consortium for Sequencing and Personalized Medicine. The research section in the department has 7 research groups (www.ous-research.no/meg/) working in various fields of medical genetics, including breast cancer, the genetics of autoimmune, neurological, cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders, epigenetics causes of disease, as well as groups focusing on bioinformatics.
The position will be associated with the ‘breast cancer heterogeneity and oncoimmunology project group (https://www.ous-research.no/tekpli) and is financed by the Norwegian Cancer Society through the project: “Empowering Precision Oncology: Insights into Tumor-Host Interactions to Personalize Breast Cancer Treatment”.
The lab has longstanding collaborations with oncologists at Oslo University Hospital (OUH) and Akershus University Hospital (Ahus) and conducts translational research in numerous clinical trials. Currently, the laboratory employs state-of-the-art technologies and methods on both fresh and archival breast tumors. Over the past 2-3 years, we have successfully applied various techniques to profile single cells within breast tumors, along with conducting spatial omics analyses.
Well established methods in the lab are single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) which we perform at different time points of neoadjuvant therapy. Currently, the major focus of the lab is to use these methods to understand which exact cell types / phenotypes are sensitive or resistant to therapies and to characterize how the tumor microenvironment may be associated with response to cancer therapies.
Oslo University Hospital is a workplace with great diversity. We believe this is essential to perform the tasks required of us. Therefore, we pursue diversity among our job applicants and encourage everyone to apply regardless of who you are and what background you have.
Work tasks
The main aims of the special engineer will be to perform scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics based on established protocols in the lab, and to participate in the development of new methods which we believe will help to better understand breast cancer evolution under treatment pressure.
Qualifications
We are looking for a special engineer who is highly motivated, well organized and dynamic with creative thinking.
- MSc with a topic in one of the following areas is required: molecular biology, cellular biology, biotechnology or similar.
- Working proficiency in molecular and cellular biology methods is required.
- Experience in one of the following topics is advantageous: library preparation for next-generation sequencing, single cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics.
Personal skills
The right candidate:
- Is a highly motivated and dynamic person.
- Is well organized with creativethinking.
- Has high intrinsic motivation and scientific curiosity.
- Has excellent oral and written English communication skills.
We offer
- A full-time contract for two years with the opportunity of an extension, depending on funding.
- Access to state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies.
- Salary in accordance with experience.
- Flexible hours.
- A stimulating (international, multidisciplinary) research environment where quality, professionalism and team spirit are encouraged.
- A multidisciplinary environment.
- The ability to work on scientifically exceptional and high impact, state-of-the-art projects.
- The opportunity to be part of a young and dynamic team and to provide a meaningful contribution to cancer research.
- Rigorous research training and supervision.
